August’s home entertainment releases are off and running in a big way with this week’s crop of horror and sci-fi titles, as we have nearly two dozen movies coming our way this Tuesday.
Scream Factory is putting in overtime with a handful of stunning steelbooks celebrating three great John Carpenter films—They Live, The Fog and Escape From New York—as well as a Collector’s Edition of James Gunn’s Slither and the indie horror films Don’t Knock Twice and House on Willow Street (which they’ve teamed up with IFC Midnight for).
As far as recent genre movies go, Colossal, Shin Godzilla, and Phoenix Forgotten are all primed for their home bow on August 1st, and both Paramount and Universal are dusting off a bunch of recent titles on both DVD and Blu-ray, including Disturbia, The Machinist, Red Eye, and the unrated version of The Ruins.
Other notable releases for the first day of August include The Good Son, The Drowning, The Intruder, and The Phantom of the Opera (1962).
Colossal (Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Blu/DVD/Digital HD & DVD)
Gloria (Anne Hathaway) is an out-of-work party girl who, after getting kicked out of her apartment by her boyfriend (Dan Stevens), is forced to leave her life in New York and move back to her hometown where she's reunited with her childhood friend (Jason Sudeikis). When news reports surface that a giant creature is destroying Seoul, South Korea, Gloria gradually comes to the realization that she is somehow connected to this far-off phenomenon. As events begin to spin out of control, Gloria must determine why her seemingly insignificant existence has such a colossal effect on the fate of the world. Experience the wildly original film critics are calling, "a great deal of fun" (New York Times).
Escape From New York: Steelbook Collector’s Edition (Scream Factory, Blu-ray)
A thrilling landmark film that jolts along at a breakneck pace, Escape From New York leapt to cult status with high-octane action, edge-of-your-seat suspense and the mind-blowing vision of lone warrior Snake Plissken (Kurt Russell) battling his way out of a post-apocalyptic Manhattan!
In a world ravaged by crime, the entire island of Manhattan has been converted into a walled prison where brutal prisoners roam. But when the US president (Donald Pleasence) crash-lands inside, only one man can bring him back: notorious outlaw and former Special Forces war hero Snake Plissken (Russell). But time is short. In 24 hours, an explosive device implanted in his neck will end Snake’s mission (and his life) unless he succeeds!
The Fog: Steelbook Collector’s Edition (Scream Factory, Blu-ray)
When the fog rolls in ... the terror begins! This moody horror classic from master of terror John Carpenter (The Thing) and producer Debra Hill (Escape From New York) stars Adrienne Barbeau (Swamp Thing), Jamie Lee Curtis (Halloween), Tom Atkins (Halloween III: Season Of The Witch), Hal Holbrook (Creepshow) and Janet Leigh (Psycho). Don’t get lost in the fog ...
The sleepy seaside village of Antonio Bay is about to learn the true meaning of the word "vengeance. ", This seemingly perfect town masks a guilty secret ... a past steeped in greed and murder. Exactly 100 years ago, a ship was horribly wrecked under mysterious circumstances in a thick, eerie fog. Now, shrouded in darkness, the long-dead mariners have returned from their watery grave to exact a bloody revenge.
The Good Son (Kino Lorber, Blu-ray)
Evil Has Many Faces! Evil resides in an unexpected place in this gripping, suspense-filled drama, written by Ian McEwan (Atonement) and directed by Joseph Ruben (The Stepfather, Sleeping with the Enemy). Macaulay Culkin (Home Alone) stars as Henry, an angelic-looking boy who seems loving and loyal to his parents, sister and friends. Only his cousin Mark (Elijah Wood, The Lord of the Rings Trilogy) sees what lurks behind Henry's smile - secret thoughts and a love of deadly sadistic games. But when Mark tries to warn Henry's family, they won't believe him, leaving the terrified youngster alone to battle his jealous, menacing cousin. The stellar cast includes Wendy Crewson (Air Force One), David Hugh Kelly (Cujo and TV's Hardcastle and McCormick) and David Morse (The Indian Runner).
Special Features:
- Interview with Director Joseph Ruben
Interview with actor Wendy Crewson
- Interview with actor Daniel Hugh Kelly
- Interview with actor David Morse
- Interview with Cinematographer John Lindley
- Reversible Art
- Original Theatrical Trailer
House on Willow Streeet (Scream Factory/IFC Midnight, Blu-ray & DVD)
The perfect kidnapping goes gruesomely awry in this shock-a-minute, supernatural wild ride. When a band of desperate criminals, led by the tough-as nails Hazel (Sharni Vinson, You’re Next), abduct Katherine (Carlyn Burchell), the daughter of an ultra-wealthy family, they are certain they’ve found themselves an easy target for ransom. What the gang doesn’t realize is that although they have Katherine’s body, her soul has already been spoken for … by a demonic force that’s about to turn the tables on them. As Katherine’s captors confront demons, both personal and supernatural, it soon becomes clear to Hazel that for this simple ransoming, there will be Hell to pay.
Phoenix Forgotten (20th Century Fox Home Entertainment, Blu/DVD/Digital HD & DVD)
PHOENIX FORGOTTEN tells the story of three teens who went into the desert shortly after the incident, hoping to document the strange events occurring in their town. They disappeared that night, and were never seen again. Now, on the twentieth anniversary of their disappearance, unseen footage has finally been discovered, chronicling the final hours of their fateful expedition. For the first time ever, the truth will be revealed...
Shin Godzilla (Funimation, Blu/DVD/Digital HD Combo & DVD)
When a massive, gilled monster emerges from the deep and tears through the city, the government scrambles to save its citizens. A rag-tag team of volunteers cuts through a web of red tape to uncover the monster’s weakness and its mysterious ties to a foreign superpower. But time is not on their side—the greatest catastrophe to ever befall the world is about to evolve right before their very eyes. Subtitles available in English.
Slither: Collector’s Edition (Scream Factory, Blu-ray)
From the co-writer and director of Guardians Of The Galaxy and Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol. 2, comes the deliciously demented story of an unnamed evil wreaking havoc on a small town. Intent on devouring all life on Earth, this dark and slimy entity is infecting anyone in its path. Now it’s up to the local sheriff, Bill Pardy (Nathan Fillion, Firefly, Serenity), and his team to stop the spread of rampant devastation (and shocking mutilation) before it’s too late. This outrageously funny horror film also stars Michael Rooker (Guardians Of The Galaxy, The Walking Dead), Elizabeth Banks (The Hunger Games, Pitch Perfect) and Gregg Henry (Body Double, Jason Bourne).
SPECIAL FEATURES:
They Live: Steelbook Collector’s Edition (Scream Factory, Blu-ray)
They influence our decisions without us knowing it. They numb our senses without us feeling it. They control our lives without us realizing it. They Live.
Horror master John Carpenter (Halloween, The Thing) directs this heart-pounding thriller in which aliens are systematically gaining control of the Earth by masquerading as humans and lulling the public into submission. Humanity's last chance lies with a lone drifter who stumbles upon a harrowing discovery: a unique pair of sunglasses that reveals the terrifying and deadly truth.
ALSO AVAILABLE THIS WEEK:
Case 39 (Paramount Home Entertainment, Blu-ray)
Disturbia (Paramount Home Entertainment, Blu-ray)
Don’t Knock Twice (Scream Factory/IFC Midnight, Blu-ray & DVD)
The Drowning (Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, Blu/DVD Combo & DVD)
The Intruder (Garagehouse Pictures, Blu-ray)
Luna (BBC, DVD)
The Machinist (Paramount Home Entertainment, Blu-ray)
The Phantom of the Opera (1962) (Universal Studios Home Entertainment, DVD)
Red Eye (Paramount Home Entertainment, DVD)
The Ruins: Unrated Edition (Universal Studios Home Entertainment, Blu-ray)
Shutter Island (Paramount Home Entertainment, Blu-ray)
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (Universal Studios Home Entertainment, DVD)
Tales from the Darkside: The Movie (Paramount Home Entertainment, DVD)
What Lies Beneath (Paramount Home Entertainment, DVD)
Heather A. Wixson was born and raised in the Chicago suburbs, until she followed her dreams and moved to Los Angeles in 2009. A 14-year veteran in the world of horror entertainment journalism, Wixson fell in love with genre films at a very early age, and has spent more than a decade as a writer and supporter of preserving the history of horror and science fiction cinema. Throughout her career, Wixson has contributed to several notable websites, including Fangoria, Dread Central, Terror Tube, and FEARnet, and she currently serves as the Managing Editor for Daily Dead, which has been her home since 2013. She's also written for both Fangoria Magazine & ReMind Magazine, and her latest book project, Monsters, Makeup & Effects: Volume One will be released on October 20, 2021.
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